Apple is preparing for a significant hardware rollout that will introduce the powerful M5 chip family and refresh its external displays, with launches widely expected between late 2025 and the first quarter of 2026. This generation will prioritize performance and efficiency gains while largely maintaining the current, proven exterior designs.
M5 Chip: A Focus on Power and AI
The new MacBooks will be powered by the M5 chip series (including Standard, Pro, and Max versions). These chips are anticipated to use an advanced 3nm manufacturing process, delivering a noticeable jump in speed and power efficiency over the M4.
- Performance: Expect better overall computing performance from the central processing unit (CPU). For graphics-intensive work like professional video editing and rendering, the new chips will feature more powerful graphics cores (GPU).
- Artificial Intelligence (AI): A key area of improvement is the Neural Engine, which handles machine learning tasks. This upgrade will make the M5-powered Macs significantly more capable for running advanced, on-device AI features in future software.
- MacBook Air Upgrades: The M5 MacBook Air is rumored to double the base storage to a more generous 512GB. The M5 chip will enable the same high performance in the Air’s fanless, lightweight design.
The MacBook Lineup: Design Holds Steady
While the internal silicon is changing, the initial M5 generation of laptops is not expected to feature a major visual redesign.
- MacBook Pro (14-inch and 16-inch): These models will get the top-tier M5 Pro and M5 Max chips. They will be the last in the current body style. A more substantial overhaul—including a rumored OLED display for superior contrast, a thinner chassis, and possible touchscreen support—is being saved for the subsequent M6 generation in late 2026 or beyond.
- MacBook Air (13-inch and 15-inch): The popular Air models will retain their sleek, modern enclosure and Liquid Retina display technology. The immediate focus is on the speed, battery life, and storage enhancements from the new chip.
External Display Refresh
Apple is also set to update its lineup of external monitors, marking the first major refresh since the 2022 Studio Display. The company is reportedly nearing mass production for two new displays.
- Studio Display Successor: One of the new monitors is highly anticipated to be an updated 27-inch model. The most important rumored upgrade is the shift to Mini-LED backlighting, which uses thousands of tiny LEDs to create local dimming zones. This technology offers much higher peak brightness and a dramatically improved contrast ratio, resulting in deeper blacks and more vibrant high-dynamic-range (HDR) content, bringing it closer to the quality of the Pro Display XDR at a more accessible price.
- Timeline: The launch of these displays is strategically timed to coincide with the release of the new M5-powered Macs, ensuring professional and prosumer users have the optimal hardware ecosystem for their creative workflows.
The M5 era of Macs, expected in early 2026, will bring foundational upgrades in power and AI capability, paired with new Mini-LED displays, marking a significant, rather than just incremental step for Apple’s hardware.
